Systems and methods for synchronized image viewing with an image atlas

ABSTRACT

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for synchronizing a view of a patient image with an atlas image. Certain embodiments provide a method for synchronizing a patient image with an atlas image. The method includes retrieving an image atlas including at least one atlas image, registering an atlas image to a patient image and synchronizing a view of the atlas image to a view of the patient image. In certain embodiments, the method further includes registering a plurality of atlas images to a plurality of patient images. In certain embodiments, the step of synchronizing further includes synchronizing at least one of orientation, zoom level, window level and pan of the atlas image to the patient image.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/867,003, filed on Nov. 22, 2006, entitled “Systemsand Methods for Synchronized Image Viewing with an Image Atlas,” whichis herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to improved image analysis andworkflow. In particular, the present invention relates to synchronizedimage viewing with an image atlas to improve image analysis andworkflow.

When radiologists are interpreting images, they may encounter someanatomical structure with which they may not be familiar. Aradiologist's unfamiliarity may be due to the fact that he or she isinterpreting images in which he or she does not specialize.Unfamiliarity may also be due a deviation from normal in a patient'sanatomy because of disease or trauma.

When faced with uncertainty about anatomical structures, it would behighly desirable for radiologists to refer to an image atlas to helpvisualize normal anatomy. Radiologists may then infer anatomicalstructures in a patient's image study. Currently, referring to an imageatlas requires a radiologist to search through a physical or electronicresource. Additionally, if a radiologist is visualizing images at anorientation that is different from that of images from the atlas, theradiologist has to reorient the images from the atlas to the orientationof the patient's images.

Image registration is used for medical image viewing applications.Registration is a process of correlating two coordinate systems, such asa patient image coordinate system and an electromagnetic trackingcoordinate system. Several methods may be employed to registercoordinates in imaging applications. “Known” or predefined objects arelocated in an image. A known object includes a sensor used by a trackingsystem. Once the sensor is located in the image, the sensor enablesregistration of the two coordinate systems.

Thus, there is a need for systems and methods for improved image reviewand analysis. There is a need for systems and methods for combiningreference image data with viewing of patient images.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systemsfor synchronizing a view of a patient image with an atlas image.

Certain embodiments provide a method for synchronizing a patient imagewith an atlas image. The method includes retrieving an image atlasincluding at least one atlas image, registering an atlas image to apatient image and synchronizing a view of the atlas image to a view ofthe patient image. In certain embodiments, the method further includesregistering a plurality of atlas images to a plurality of patientimages. In certain embodiments, the step of synchronizing furtherincludes synchronizing at least one of orientation, zoom level, windowlevel and pan of the atlas image to the patient image.

Certain embodiments provide an image viewing system displaying a patientimage with an atlas image. The system includes a viewing station forviewing a medical image. The viewing station is configured to view oneor more patient images in conjunction with one or more atlas images. Theviewing station includes a processor configured to retrieve an imageatlas including at least one atlas image relating to a patient image fordisplay. The processor registers the at least one atlas image to atleast one patient image and synchronizes a view of the at least oneatlas image to a view of the at least one patient image.

Certain embodiments provide a computer readable medium having a set ofinstructions for execution on a computer. The set of instructionsincludes an image atlas retrieval routine for retrieving an image atlasincluding at least one atlas image. The set of instructions alsoincludes a registration routine for registering an atlas image to apatient image. The set of instructions further includes asynchronization routine for synchronizing a view of the atlas image to aview of the patient image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a comparison of a patient image and an atlas image inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an image viewing system used in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram for a method for image analysis inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofcertain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understoodwhen read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in thedrawings. It should be understood, however, that the present inventionis not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in theattached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In certain embodiments, images are presented to radiologists and/orother viewers to approximate the presentation of images from a patient'sstudy. An appropriate atlas is selected based on an image study beingpresented to a radiologist or other viewer for interpretation. If thestudy is a computed tomography (CT) head study of a male adult, forexample, then an image atlas of a CT head scan of a male adult ofcomparable height and weight is presented with one or more views such asaxial, sagittal, coronal and/or oblique. Atlas images may be displayedat a zoom level and image window level comparable to that of the patientstudy, for example.

In certain embodiments, images between the atlas and the study areregistered. Since the images are registered between the two sets, animage from the atlas may be selected for display to correspond with animage being viewed from the patient study. Thus, the view of the patientstudy is essentially synchronized with the view of the atlas. In certainembodiments, images from the atlas are labeled. Therefore, if aradiologist or other viewer wants additional understanding of anatomicalstructures, the radiologist or other viewer can refer to an image atlas.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a patient image 110 on the left issynchronized with an atlas image 120 on the right. Settings of the atlasimage 120, such as a zoom, window level, pan, orientation and/or otherpresentation state, are synchronized with those of the patient image110, for example. Atlas image 120 may be labeled with identifyingreference(s), such as internal carotid artery 1, vertebral artery 2,cavernous sinus 3, carotid canal 4, anterior cerebral artery 5 andposterior cerebral artery 6.

In certain embodiments, a user viewing the patient image 110concurrently sees the atlas image 120, and the atlas image 120 may aidin his or her review and analysis of the patient image 110. The user mayrefer to identified anatomy (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) in the atlas image120 to help interpret anatomy in the patient image 110. Additionally,differences between anatomy in the patient image 110 and the atlas image120 may become more apparent through a side-by-side comparison, forexample.

FIG. 2 illustrates an image viewing system 200 used in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention. The components of the system 200may be implemented in software, hardware and/or firmware separatelyand/or in various combinations, for example. In the system 200, a usermay view one or more images via an image viewing station 250, such as aPACS workstation, RIS/PACS station, and/or other terminal/viewingapplication. Images may include a patient image 210 and an atlas image220, for example.

The user may retrieve the patient image 210 from an imaging system 230and/or image archive (e.g., PACS, etc.) via the viewing station 250, forexample. The user may retrieve the atlas image 220 from a referencelibrary 240, image atlas and/or other storage, for example. The user maythen view the patient image 210 with the atlas image 220 to help inanalysis of the patient image 210. In certain embodiments, the userand/or viewing station 250 may orient and/or otherwise adjust the atlasimage 220 to correlate with the patient image 210.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram for a method 300 for image analysis inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. At step 310, apatient image is obtained for review. For example, a CT image of a madeadult head is obtained and sent to a radiologist for review. At step320, a corresponding atlas image is retrieved for viewing with thepatient image. For example, a reference or atlas image of a head of amale adult of comparable height and weight is retrieved from an imageatlas or library. At step 330, the atlas image is modified to correspondwith the patient image. For example, the patient image and atlas imageare registered, and the views are synchronized such that the view of theatlas image corresponds at least roughly to the view of the patientimage.

In certain embodiments, a reference or atlas set of images may becollected and stored at a PACS or other image data storage, for example.Reference images may be an aggregated set of references or “goldstandard” images and/or may be organized for a particular patient, forexample. For example, five sets of images may serve as a reference setfor acquired image data. Images in the reference set(s) are labeled withmajor anatomy or other feature(s) in each image. Once image registrationhas been performed, acquired image studies, such as newly acquiredradiology image studies, may automatically be labeled based on thelabels found in the reference image set(s). Labels may be correlated fornewly acquired images at a patient level, organ level, etc. For example,a liver may be identified in a newly acquired image based onregistration between the newly acquired image and one of the referenceimages. A label assigned to a structure, such as a liver, in thereference image(s) is assigned to the corresponding structure in theacquired image.

In an embodiment, a user may navigate through a plurality of imagesbased on labels assigned to one or more features in the images. Thus, auser may navigate set of images by anatomy, such as by organ.Alternatively, a user may navigate a set of images by patient and/or byother criterion.

In an embodiment, a library of standard or typical scans may beclassified by one or more characteristic, such as modality, patient,gender, weight, height, age, ethnicity, ailment, etc. Any number ofimages may be included and classified in the library. A reference set ofimages may be selected from the library based on one or morecharacteristics. A PACS may automatically match a reference set to thedesired characteristic(s) based on data input at time of imageacquisition, for example. In an embodiment, the system may include morethan one reference image set based on patient characteristics.Combinations of patient characteristics may represent differentreference sets, for example. In an embodiment, a newly acquired imageexam may be categorized based on different characteristics associatedwith a reference image set.

In an embodiment, clinical information may be displayed based onanatomy. For example, a patient may have pathology, lab results,microbiology, historical data, etc. as well as images. When a radiologyor other healthcare practitioner is examining images, he or she may wishto also consider clinical information, such as test results, etc.Additionally, results may only be relevant to certain parts of anatomy.If a PACS determines which images and/or anatomy a practitioner isreviewing, the PACS may automatically display relevant results. A PACSor other system may map results and/or other data with relevant anatomy.The PACS registers viewed image(s) to reference image(s). Based onregistration, the PACS may determine anatomy and retrieve relevant datamapped to and/or otherwise associated with the anatomy.

In certain embodiments, the reference or atlas image set may include oneor more images obtained from CT, MR, digital radiography (“DR”), x-ray,ultrasound, nuclear, single phone emission computed tomography(“SPECT”), positron emission tomography (“PET”), and/or other imagingsystems. For example, the image atlas may include one or more imagesdepicting a plurality of anatomy, such as liver, pancreas, kidneys,and/or large intestine, in an image. The image atlas may include one ormore subsets of images. In an embodiment, the image atlas and/or asubset of the image atlas may be organized by anatomy, malady, patient,and/or other criterion. The acquired patient image set and/or a subsetof the acquired image set may also be organized by anatomy, malady,patient, and/or other criterion, for example. The image atlas mayinclude anatomical structure information such as patient clinicalinformation, reference sources, disease processes, images, druginteractions, and/or other information.

The image atlas may be used to correlate anatomical structures depictedin image(s) to relevant clinical information from one or more sources.Image registration techniques, such as cross correlation, minimizationof variance, mutual information, principal axes, manual registration,and/or other registration technique, may be used to correlate image(s)and/or points within the image(s) in the acquired patient image set withimages and/or points in the image atlas. Anatomical informationcontained in the image atlas describes image content in the image atlas.An image registration module may be used to register the acquiredpatient image set with respect to the reference image atlas. The imageregistration module may be implemented on a PACS workstation, PACSserver, image viewer, and/or other processor, for example. Imageregistration, display, and/or other functionality may be implemented inhardware, firmware, and/or as a set of instructions in software, forexample.

Once the acquired patient image set has been registered, the image atlasmay be used to retrieve relevant clinical data or other information.Relevant anatomical or clinical data may include patient clinicalinformation, reference sources, disease or other malady processes,related image(s), drug interaction information, and/or otherinformation, for example.

Certain embodiments automate matching of images to previous exam imagesusing registration techniques that allow a mapping between two examsbased on anatomy, for example. A registration algorithm may includeseveral parameters including a metric value, for example. The metricvalue is a measure of similarity between two images. A correlationbetween two image slices may be directly related to the metric value.Current and previous exam image sets may include one or more imagesobtained from CT, MR, digital radiography (“DR”), x-ray, ultrasound,nuclear, single phone emission computed tomography (“SPECT”), positronemission tomography (“PET”), and/or other imaging modalities, forexample.

Similarity between images may be computed using a variety of metrics.For example, a mean square image to image metric may be used to computeimage similarity. The mean square image to image metric quantitativelymeasures how well a transformed moving image fits a fixed image bycomparing a gray-scale intensity of the images. A lower metric valueindicates higher correlation between the image slices.

For example, using a mean square difference metric, an image A iscompared to images B and C in a previous image set. Each pixel in imageA is compared to a corresponding pixel in each of image B and image C.Differences between pixel values are summed for each image and squared.A match metric value for images A and B is then computed by dividing thesum of difference values by the total number of pixels. A match metricvalue for images A and C is also computed accordingly. A lower metricvalue indicates fewer differences in pixel values between the imagesand, therefore, a higher correlation between the images.

Alternatively or in addition, a mutual information metric may be used tocompute similarity between images. The mutual information metricmeasures how much information one random variable (e.g., image intensityin one image) tells about another random variable (e.g., image intensityin the other image).

For example, mutual information may be calculated from a histogram ofimage intensities for a pair of images A and B. The mutual informationmetric measures the information shared by image intensity values forpixels in image A and image intensity values for corresponding pixels inimage B. A histogram of images intensities for images A and B may showthe similarities and differences between image intensities for images Aand B. If images A and B are independent, then the mutual informationmetric value is zero. If images A and B are identical, then imageintensities in image A are no different from image intensities in imageB, and no new information is added. Mutual information measurements maybe used to identify whether image B is the most similar previous imagecorresponding to image A, for example.

Alternatively or in addition, other metrics, such as normalizedcorrelation, mean reciprocal square difference, cross correlation,minimization of variance, principal axes, manual registration, and/orother registration technique, may be used to identify similar images. Incertain embodiments, images of different modalities may be registeredusing a plurality of metrics.

Images may be registered in a variety of ways in order to apply one ormore metrics discussed above. Registration techniques may includetwo-dimensional (2D) axial slice to slice registration and reformat,maximum intensity projection (MIP) and/or scout registration, forexample. For a given current and previous exam pair in 2D axial slice toslice registration, each image in the current exam is registered witheach image in the previous exam. For example, image slices from thecurrent exam and a previous exam are transformed to a referencecoordinate system. Pixel values between the image slices may be comparedaccording to a variety of metrics, including the metrics describedabove. Corresponding pairs may be identified based on the metric value.For example, an image pair with the lowest metric value is a matchingpair. Each image in the current exam may be registered with an imagefrom a previous exam or atlas accordingly.

Using reformat/MIP/scout registration, for example, coronal or sagittalreformats, MIPs and/or scout images may be generated for the current andprevious exams using 2D axial images. Then, using an appropriatetranslation-rotation transform, the reformat/MIP/scout image(s) for thecurrent exam are registered to the reformat/MIP/scout image(s) for theprevious exam. The X and Y coordinate translation values afterreformat/MIP/scout registration define a relationship between physicalcoordinates of the 2D axial images.

For example, an axial image may be reformatted with respect to a certainplane, such as a sagittal or coronal plane. Additionally, an axial imagemay be analyzed for brightest texture elements (texels) at each pixellocation in the image. Furthermore, one or more overview or scoutimage(s) may be used for comparison with axial image slices. Acombination of translation and/or rotation may be used to map pixels inthe images to a reference coordinate system. Then images from thecurrent and previous exams may be registered and compared.

Registration and image matching may be computed prior to display of theimages on a PACS workstation. When a radiologist or other user opens anexam, hanging protocols may automatically open related previous exams.Using a matching table generated during registration, the radiologist isable to click a button or otherwise select and automatically link imagesfrom current and previous exams based on anatomy. Thus, correlationbetween images from a new exam and images from a previous exam may beperformed automatically without manual intervention.

Radiologists and/or other users may link a current exam with multipleprevious exams and cine or scroll through exam images with respect toanatomy rather than image number. Images may be synchronized based on atable or other reference listing generated from registering the currentexam with the previous exams. A PACS workstation, PACS server, and/orother processing system may be used to automatically determinecorrelation of images from a patient's previous exam to a new unreadexam. In certain embodiments, a user may review linked exam images basedon vocal or subvocal command, eye tracking, selection by mousing device,and/or other technique, for example.

In an embodiment, clinical information may also be displayed based onanatomy. For example, a patient may have pathology, lab results,microbiology, historical data, etc. as well as images. When a radiologyor other healthcare practitioner is examining images, he or she may wishto also consider clinical information, such as test results, etc.Additionally, results may only be relevant to certain parts of anatomy.If a PACS determines which images and/or anatomy a practitioner isreviewing, the PACS may automatically display relevant results. A PACSor other system may map results and/or other data with relevant anatomy.The PACS registers viewed image(s) to reference image(s). Based onregistration, the PACS may determine anatomy and retrieve relevant datamapped to the anatomy.

Image registration and correlation may be facilitating using a PACSand/or other processing system, for example. Images and/or related datamay be stored in a clinical information system or archive, for example.In an embodiment, a matching table, database, or other memory structuremay indicate and/or be used to help indicate a mapping between a currentimage and an atlas or other historical image, for example.

In certain embodiments, when one or more atlas images are registeredwith one or more patient images, a metric value is generated from eachregistration that indicates a similarity between the two images. Incertain embodiments, a lower metric value indicates a highercorrelation. In certain embodiments, a higher metric value may indicatea higher correlation. Synchronization of patient and atlas images may beidentified based at least in part on the metric value. In certainembodiments, mapping and synchronization between patient and atlasimage(s) may be stored for later use or retrieval.

Thus, certain embodiments provide reference information with anatomicalcontext having different views of a three-dimensional dataset. Certainembodiments synchronize a view of an image atlas to that of a patientimage(s) based on prior image registration to improve ease of comparisonbetween atlas image and patient image. Certain embodiments provide atechnical effect of synchronizing patient image(s) with atlas image(s)for improved, reference, understanding and comparison to aid indiagnosis and treatment.

Certain embodiments present images from an image atlas to radiologistsand/or other clinicians in a manner similar to how images from apatient's study are presented. An appropriate atlas is chosen based onthe study being presented to the radiologist for interpretation. Forexample, an atlas image of corresponding anatomy, angle, dimension,etc., may be selected for viewing in conjunction with a patient image ofthat anatomy, angle, dimension, etc. The atlas images may also bedisplayed at the same zoom level and image window level normalized.Because the images between the atlas and the study are registered, thecorresponding image from the atlas can be selected to be displayed forthe radiologist. Therefore, the view of the patient study is essentiallysynchronized with the view of the atlas. In certain embodiments, sincethe images from the atlas are labeled, if the radiologist needs tounderstand the anatomical structures better, then the radiologist caneasily refer to an image atlas.

Several embodiments are described above with reference to drawings.These drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments thatimplement the systems and methods and programs of the present invention.However, describing the invention with drawings should not be construedas imposing on the invention any limitations associated with featuresshown in the drawings. The present invention contemplates methods,systems and program products on any machine-readable media foraccomplishing its operations. As noted above, the embodiments of thepresent invention may be implemented using an existing computerprocessor, or by a special purpose computer processor incorporated forthis or another purpose or by a hardwired system.

As noted above, embodiments within the scope of the present inventioninclude program products comprising machine-readable media for carryingor having machine-executable instructions or data structures storedthereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that canbe accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or othermachine with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable mediamay comprise RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, CD-ROM or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desiredprogram code in the form of machine-executable instructions or datastructures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer or other machine with a processor. When information istransferred or provided over a network or another communicationsconnection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired orwireless) to a machine, the machine properly views the connection as amachine-readable medium. Thus, any such a connection is properly termeda machine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also includedwithin the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executableinstructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purposeprocessing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.

Embodiments of the invention are described in the general context ofmethod steps which may be implemented in one embodiment by a programproduct including machine-executable instructions, such as program code,for example in the form of program modules executed by machines innetworked environments. Generally, program modules include routines,programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that performparticular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.Machine-executable instructions, associated data structures, and programmodules represent examples of program code for executing steps of themethods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executableinstructions or associated data structures represents examples ofcorresponding acts for implementing the functions described in suchsteps.

Embodiments of the present invention may be practiced in a networkedenvironment using logical connections to one or more remote computershaving processors. Logical connections may include a local area network(LAN) and a wide area network (WAN) that are presented here by way ofexample and not limitation. Such networking environments are commonplacein office-wide or enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and theInternet and may use a wide variety of different communicationprotocols. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such networkcomputing environments will typically encompass many types of computersystem configurations, including personal computers, hand-held devices,multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumerelectronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and thelike. Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced in distributedcomputing environments where tasks are performed by local and remoteprocessing devices that are linked (either by hardwired links, wirelesslinks, or by a combination of hardwired or wireless links) through acommunications network. In a distributed computing environment, programmodules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

An exemplary system for implementing the overall system or portions ofthe invention might include a general purpose computing device in theform of a computer, including a processing unit, a system memory, and asystem bus that couples various system components including the systemmemory to the processing unit. The system memory may include read onlymemory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). The computer may alsoinclude a magnetic hard disk drive for reading from and writing to amagnetic hard disk, a magnetic disk drive for reading from or writing toa removable magnetic disk, and an optical disk drive for reading from orwriting to a removable optical disk such as a CD ROM or other opticalmedia. The drives and their associated machine-readable media providenonvolatile storage of machine-executable instructions, data structures,program modules and other data for the computer. For example, thee setof instructions may include an image atlas retrieval routine forretrieving an image atlas including at least one atlas image. The set ofinstructions may also include a registration routine for registering anatlas image to a patient image. The set of instructions may furtherinclude a synchronization routine for synchronizing a view of the atlasimage to a view of the patient image, for example.

The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of theabove teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principalsof the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled inthe art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments disclosedherein may be applied to the formation of any image registration,display and analysis system. Certain features of the embodiments of theclaimed subject matter have been illustrated as described herein;however, many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents willnow occur to those skilled in the art. Additionally, while severalfunctional blocks and relations between them have been described indetail, it is contemplated by those of skill in the art that several ofthe operations may be performed without the use of the others, oradditional functions or relationships between functions may beestablished and still be in accordance with the claimed subject matter.It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intendedto cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the truespirit of the embodiments of the claimed subject matter.

1. A method for synchronizing a patient image with an atlas image, saidmethod comprising: retrieving, using a processor, an image atlasincluding at least one atlas image, said retrieving based on one or morecharacteristic associated with the patient image and the image atlas;registering, using the processor, an atlas image to a patient image;synchronizing, using the processor, a view of the atlas image to a viewof the patient image; and labeling components in the atlas image forreference with respect to the patient image.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising registering a plurality of atlas images to aplurality of patient images.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said stepof synchronizing further comprises synchronizing at least one oforientation, zoom level, window level and pan of the atlas image to thepatient image.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step ofsynchronizing further comprises synchronizing presentation states forthe atlas image and the patient image.
 5. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising labeling components in the patent image based on labels inthe atlas image.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step ofretrieving an image atlas further comprises retrieving an image atlasbased on anatomy shown in the patient image.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein said one or more characteristic further comprises at least oneof modality, patient, gender, weight, height, age, ethnicity andailment.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing clinicaldata based on the image atlas.
 9. An image viewing system displaying apatient image with an atlas image, said system comprising: a viewingstation for viewing a medical image, said viewing station configured toview one or more patient images in conjunction with one or more atlasimages, said viewing station including a processor configured toretrieve an image atlas including at least one atlas image relating to apatient image for display, said processor registering the at least oneatlas image to at least one patient image and synchronizing a view ofsaid at least one atlas image to a view of said at least one patientimage, wherein said processor retrieves an image atlas based on one ormore characteristic associated with the patient image and the imageatlas and wherein the at least one atlas image includes labeledcomponents for reference with respect to the patient image.
 10. Thesystem of claim 9, further comprising a reference library storing aplurality of image atlases.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein saidreference library includes clinical data related to the plurality ofimage atlases, said processor providing clinical data based on the atleast one image atlas.
 12. The system of claim 9, wherein said processorsynchronizes at least one of orientation, zoom level, window level andpan of the at least one atlas image to the at least one patient image.13. The system of claim 9, wherein said processor synchronizespresentation states for the at least one atlas image and the patientimage.
 14. The system of claim 9, wherein said processor labelscomponents in the at least one patent image based on labels in the atleast one atlas image.
 15. The system of claim 9, wherein said one ormore characteristic includes at least one of anatomy, modality, patient,gender, weight, height, age, ethnicity and ailment.
 16. A computerreadable medium having a set of instructions for execution on acomputer, said set of instructions comprising: an image atlas retrievalroutine for retrieving an image atlas including at least one atlasimage, said image atlas retrieval routine to retrieve based on one ormore characteristic associated with the patient image and the imageatlas; a registration routine for registering an atlas image to apatient image; and a synchronization routine for synchronizing a view ofthe atlas image to a view of the patient image, said synchronizationroutine labeling components in the atlas image for reference withrespect to the patient image.
 17. The computer readable medium of claim16, wherein said synchronization routine further comprises synchronizingat least one of orientation, zoom level, window level and pan of theatlas image to the patient image.